Tour to Himalaya 2005 - Chardham

In spring 2005 a group of us went on a trip to the holy places in Himalaya mountains. Most of us were from Slovenia and Croatia, and my friend from Austria. Char dham is a well known pilgrimage in Indian part of Himalaya mountains. It mainly consists of visiting four - char, holy places: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedrinath and Bhadrinath. I will tell more about the places along with pictures.

We took an Alitalia flight from Vienna to Milano, and from there to Delhi. Here we are on the aiport in Vienna.

Here we are already on the streets on Delhi. This is usual view of crowded streets of India surcharged with sounds of different horns.

From Delhi we travelled to Haridwar - doors to Lord Hari. It is holy place of pilgrimage where pilgrims are taking purificatory bath in Ganges river. Many temples and holy spots are here.

Along pilgrims and sadhus many interesting people are gathering here, trying to exibit their skills or sell items to earn some money for their livelihood.

Ganga is brought and majestic here.

Animals are peacefully residing in these places, since there is no danger to slaughter them. Residents of Himalayas are in great majority vegeterians.

View on Haridwar and Ganga from temple on the hill.

Great Deity of Lord Siva in the middle of Haridwar. In Himalayas people are very fond of greatest devotee Lord Siva and have many temples where they worship him.

From Haridwar we went further to Rishikesh, approximatelly 20 km further. There is famous bathing spot, where is the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. Name Rishikesh comes from rishi - sage, since there many great Rishis in the past were performing meditation and austerities. Now many yoga asramas and temples are located in this town.

From Rishikesh the road is starting to climb up to the first hills of Himalaya.

Road is going upstream by the Ganga river and later Yamuna. First we will visit Yamunotri - the source of Yamuna river.

Road is quite narrow specially if you meet a flock of animals on it or a vehicle going opposite.

Or if local people decide to not let you pass, you can just stay on the spot and wait. In one village they had a student strike and block the only road for Yamunotri. We left the bus here and took Jeep taxi on the other side of village so that we could continue. The bus followed us when the strike was finished.

Our drivers. Funny guys always chewing and smoking.

Here we see for the first time high peaks whith eternal snow.

They are around 6000 m above see level.

And here we are coming to place were we have to walk further. We took our guides here.

These are our guides. On the left very nice boy and on the right older brother which was sometimes little heavy.

You can also go up to Yamunotri beeing carried by four men.

Or on the back of a horse or mule.

We met one sadhu-ji on the road. I called him smoking sadhu, since he was smoking with our older guide. He was giggling to my comment.

So here we are approaching Yamunotri.

Deities in the main temple. Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati in the middle.

Nice looking vaishnava by the yamuna river. It was just after he took bath in freezing cold yamuna.

Priests from the temple there. They made pitri yajna (offering to the forefathers) for sadhuji on previous picture and me also.

Close to the main temple is another very nice vaishnava temple. They have quite some deities on the altar and also some Salagrams.

Very nice vaishnava who is staying in this temple. They served us very tasty prasadam.

I also took a dip in Yamuna. Quite refreshing.

Next day few of us went further on to place called Sapta Rishi lake.

Road was hard so the horses could not come with.

We had to climb more then 1000 m height in one day and come back the same day.

Here we are coming to snow and fog area.

This is Sapta Rishi lake which was small, but after rainy season it is much biger. Seven Rishis were meditating here and they say this is real source of Yamuna river.

Some nice peaks around the lake.

About 6000 m above see level.

Coming down from Yamunotri.

It happens that sheep completely block the roud for some time.

Interesting use od the shovel. One is holding the handle and another guy is holding the rope. In this way it is easier to dig the earth or sand.


Here we are coming to Gangotri. Place were we met with our spiritual master Smita Krsna Swami.

On the street going through Gangotri.

Kids usually like to pose before camera.

Just below Gangotri, Ganga is flowing with fast stream.

This is main temple whith Ganga deity inside. Nearby is also murti of Bhagirath who was making tapasya here to bring mother Ganga to this world.

After few days staying in Gangotri we went further to Goumukh (source of Ganga river) with our Guru maharaja in front of us.

We had view on high peaks with eternal snow and ice.

Chanting holy names on the way.

We were lucky with the wheather, which was sunny almost all the time.

On the way there were places for taking rest.

Here we are coming to small village where we spent the night in nice Sita Ram temple. Devotees there are really nice. Immediately they serve you free tea and give you place to sleep and prasadam for very decent price.

Rooms for sleeping. As you can see there is no heating system inside so you have to bring good sleeping bags with you.

Very intersting vaishnava is living nearby. All the time wearing just caupin - small peace of under wear. Those who know Sacinandana swami is his regular guest when he visits these places. He is living very simple but still he offered us nice tasty meal. We also had nice bhajan. He and two preasts from the temple are the only ones who stay here through the whole winter. It may happen to be 6m of snow here.

Next day we went further to Gaumukh - source of Ganga river.

On the way we had a view on natural Siva linga peak, close to 7000 m high.

And this is Gaumukh. Source of Ganges. It is coming directly out of glacier so the water here is freezing cold.

Still some of us used this rare opportunity to purify our soul by taking a dip in this holy place.

Next day few of us went further to place called Tapovan.

Road was not clear and was full of rocks and sand. Actually we were walking on top of glacier.

After few hours we made it. Tapovan is plateau around 4500 m high. Rishis used to make tapasya-austerities here.

And some still are. Younger one on the left is staying here through the whole winter.

As you can see I was finished.

One view from Tapovan.

This is Siva cave.

From inside there is a hole and narrow stairs down.

This is sadhu living here through the whole year maditating on Lord Siva with "Om Sivaya namaha" mantra.

This is not a satellite antena but device for heating water. You can see in the middle a bottle of water.

Local sadhus walk barefoot and look quite comfartable.

Now we are on the way to Kedarnath. From this small town you have to walk or ride with a horse to Kedarnath.

Here Parvati was performing austerities to get Lord Siva for husband.

This is first view of Kedarnath. One branch of Ganga is flowing by the village.

Next place we will see is Kedarnath. Place is dedicated to lord Siva. Pandava were worshiping him here to eradicte their sins commited in war on Kurukshetra. Siva took form of bull to hide from them when they were searching for him. When they found out that he accepted the form of a bull he started to sink down in the earth. Bhima grabed him just before he sinked completely and the only thing what was left outside was the hunch of a bull. Siva instructed them, that if they want to eradicate their sins they should worship that hunch. And that same Siva-bull hunch is worshiped in the main temple in Kedarnath.

Every visitor can make an offering to Bulls hunch inside the temple. Taking photos there is strictly forbbiden so this one is taken whithout flash light incognito.

Entrance door of the main temple.

Well he is most genuine Sivait we met. Very poorly dressed although temperature was quite low and had ashes all over his body. He is mercifully giving us blessings.

Now we are already on the way to Badrinath. This is intersting Nrisimhadev temple in one town on the way.

Inside is a deity of Nrisimhadev, who has very tinny wrist. It is said that when His hand will fall of two mountains on the way to Bradrinath will collapse and block the only way to Badrinath.

This is already Badrinath temple.

In fromt of the temple are Tapta kund
and Narada kund. Before entering the temple pilgrims bath in this two ponds.

This is again one photo of deity taken incognito.

Further from Bhadrinath we went to place called Mana. Here Srila Vyasadev spoke and Ganesh wrote Vedic literature.

This is Ganes cave.

Deity of Ganesh.

And this is cave where Srila Vyasadev recited Vedic literature. You can see deity of Srila Vyasadev.

We went futher to the hill. This is nice view on the valley.

And here we have Bhima`s rock. This big rock on which people are standing Bhima personally threw over the gorge, so that Pandavas could cross over.

On this flags many sankrit prayers are written, so that when the wind is blowing he can pray through them.

We succeeded to finish our Char dham journey.

And few pictures from Vrindavan. One of rare deities of Sri Caitanya mahaprabhu in Vrindavan. Deity is called Amiya Nimai.

Radha Raman selfmanifested deity.

Murti of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami in Radha Damodar mandir.



Hare Krsna